Method of wrapping a floral grouping

Abstract

A method of wrapping a floral grouping, preferably an orchid, with a sleeve. The sleeve is preferably constructed from a laminated material made up of at least a waxy layer and a support layer which are superposed upon each other and connected or laminated to each other. A second waxy layer may be connected or laminated to the other surface of the support surface. The wrapped floral grouping may also contain a shredded material for cushioning the blooms of the floral grouping.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of wrapping a floral grouping comprising the steps of: providing a floral grouping comprising a bloom portion;   providing a flexible preformed sleeve having an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, an upper end, a lower end and an inner retaining space into which the floral grouping is disposable and which is accessible through the upper end, the sleeve constructed from a material comprising a waxy layer of material and a support layer of material, the waxy layer of material superposed upon a surface of the support layer of material and connected thereto and forming the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve, and wherein the waxy layer of material is constructed from a separate sheet of a waxy material; and   opening the sleeve and placing the floral grouping within the inner retaining space of the sleeve such that the waxy layer of material is positioned adjacent the bloom portion of the floral grouping forming a wrapped floral grouping.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a floral grouping, the floral grouping comprises an orchid. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is constructed from a transparent, translucent or opaque material. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mil. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is further defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mil. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve is further defined as having a portion which is detachable via a detaching element. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of placing the sleeve about the floral grouping, a bonding material is used for bondingly holding the sleeve about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing the sleeve, the support layer of material is defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, cellophane, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, cardboard, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing the sleeve, the sleeve has a bonding material thereon for bondingly connecting a portion of the sleeve together for holding the sleeve in a wrapped position about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of sealing the upper end of the sleeve about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of sealing the lower end of the sleeve about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of sealing both the upper end and the lower end of the sleeve about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of providing a shredded material and placing a quantity of the shredded material within the inner retaining space of the sleeve generally about the bloom portion of the floral grouping for cushioning the bloom portion of the floral grouping. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14 wherein the shredded material is further defined as comprising shreds having a waxy layer and a support layer, the waxy layer comprising a waxy material, and the waxy layer connected to the support layer. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1 wherein after the step of placing the floral grouping within the sleeve, damage to the bloom portion of the floral grouping by crushing is substantially prevented by the sleeve under ordinary handling conditions. 
     
     
       17. A method of wrapping a floral grouping comprising the steps of: providing a floral grouping comprising a bloom portion;   providing a flexible preformed sleeve having an outer peripheral surface, an inner peripheral surface, an upper end, a lower end and an inner retaining space surrounded by the inner peripheral surface and into which the floral grouping is disposable and which is accessible through the upper end, the sleeve constructed from a material comprising a first waxy layer of material, a second waxy layer of material and a support layer of material, the first waxy layer of material superposed upon and connected to a first surface of the support layer of material and the second waxy layer of material superposed upon and connected to a second surface of the support layer of material and forming the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve, and wherein each waxy layer of material is constructed from a separate sheet of waxy material; and   opening the sleeve and placing the floral grouping within the inner retaining space of the sleeve such that the second waxy layer of material is positioned adjacent the bloom portion of the floral grouping so as to substantially encompass the bloom portion of the floral grouping forming a wrapped floral grouping.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 comprising the additional step of sealing the upper end of the sleeve about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17 comprising the additional step of sealing the lower end of the sleeve about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 17 comprising the additional step of sealing both the upper end and the lower end of the sleeve about the floral grouping. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 17 comprising the additional step of providing a shredded material and placing a quantity of the shredded material within the inner retaining space of the sleeve generally about the bloom portion of the floral grouping for cushioning the bloom portion of the floral grouping. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21 wherein the shredded material is further defined as comprising shreds having a waxy layer and a support layer, the waxy layer comprising a waxy material, and the waxy layer connected to the support layer. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 17 wherein in the step of providing a floral grouping, the floral grouping comprises an orchid. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 17 wherein after the step of placing the floral grouping within the sleeve, damage to the bloom portion of the floral grouping by crushing is substantially prevented by the sleeve under ordinary handling conditions.